Film Fingerprinting

1. A method for marking a copy of a movie, the method comprising: associating a binary-coded serial number with the copy; selecting frames of the copy for designation as bit frames; and, marking the bit frames of the copy in accordance with the binary-coded serial number; wherein the binary-coded serial number comprises a number of binary digits, the value of each of which is conveyed by a respective one of the bit frames.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of coding a print identifier into the binary-coded serial number.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a marked bit frame represents a particular value of a binary digit and an unmarked bit frame represents the other value of the binary digit.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bit frames are selected randomly.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each bit frame is associated with a bit multi-frame, which comprises a number of frames that are available for conveying a particular bit value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the binary-coded serial number is an error detection and correction (EDC) binary-coded serial number.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing a movie, the movie comprising: a first number of frames, where each frame represents portions of the movie; and a second number of frames, where each frame represents portions of the movie and wherein the second number of frames represents a binary-coded serial number for use in identifying this copy of the movie; wherein the binary-coded serial number comprises a number of binary digits, the value of each of which is conveyed by a respective one of the second number of frames; wherein the binary digits of the second number of frames are marked for computer controlled reading; and, wherein one of the second number of frames represents a particular value of a binary digit when a predefined marking pattern is present on the frame and wherein one of the second number of frames represents the other value of the binary digit when a predefined marking pattern is not present on the frame.

8. The readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the binary-coded serial number is an error detection and correction (EDC) binary-coded serial number.

9. Apparatus for use in marking a copy of a movie, the apparatus comprising: means for coding a print identifier into a binary-coded serial number; and means for marking frames of the copy in accordance with the binary-coded serial number; wherein the binary-coded serial number comprises a number of binary digits; and wherein the means for marking marks a corresponding number of bit frames such that each bit of the binary-coded serial number is represented on a respective bit frame.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a marked bit frame represents a particular value of a binary digit and an unmarked bit frame represents the other value of the binary digit.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the bit frames are selected randomly.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each bit frame is associated with a bit multi-frame, which comprises a number of frames that are available for conveying a particular bit value.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the means for coding adds error protection such that the binary-coded serial number is an error detection and correction (EDC) binary-coded serial number.